SPOOKY ITV drama Marchlands was a huge hit when it aired in early 2011. Chronicling a series of supernatural events in the same house over three generations, the drama, which starred Alex Kingston, Jodie Whitaker and Shelley Conn, atracted nearly six million viewers.

So fans of the show will be delighted to hear that follow–up series Lightfelds begins next week.

Lightfelds follows the same format of three families living in the same property, this time a remote Suffolk farmhouse, over three time periods – 1944, 1975 and the present day. The families are all linked by a chilling presence that haunts the farm: the ghost of a girl who died at the property under mysterious circumstances.

Jill, 37, stars as Martha, a farmer's wife living at Lightfelds in 1944 with her husband, Albert (Sam Hazeldine) and their children, Lucy (Antonia Clarke) and Pip (Larry Mills). Their lives are turned upside down by the arrival of teenager Eve (Dakota), an evacuee from London.

"My character's story takes place in the 40s. Something happens back then that has a rippling effect for many years to come," explains Jill. "I can't really say too much without giving things away!" What we do know is that a fre rips through a hay barn, leaving the family and local community torn apart by grief. What happened will have far–reaching consequences for the families that later live at Lightfelds.

Jill, who has a four–year–old son, Harvey, with ex–husband Chris Conway, hopes that Lightfelds will emulate the success of Marchlands and believes that the paranormal has an enduring appeal.

"Everybody likes to be a little bit scared," she says. "But not everyone likes full–on horror movies. Lightfelds is a compromise – it's spooky without being too over the top."Also, a lot of people are fascinated by the afterlife. I'm very open to ideas about life after death. I don't find it that hard to believe that a person's energy can still exist afer they have passed away."

Jill Halfpenny with her former Eastenders crew

It did mean having to spend hours in make–up, putting loads of rollers into my hair. I didn't appreciate that at 5.30am!

Jill Halfpenny

Playing Martha, the mother of two children and carer of evacuees, Jill had to film many scenes with the younger cast members, Dakota, Larry and Antonia. "It's always nice to work with younger people as ofen they have a freedom about them," Jill reveals. "They've put in brilliant performances."

The actress, who has also starred in Coronation Street, Waterloo Road and Wild At Heart, says she also enjoyed wearing Martha's war–time costume, but adds, "It did mean having to spend hours in make–up, putting loads of rollers into my hair. I didn't appreciate that at 5.30am!" Last year, Jill won rave reviews as Beverly in a West End production of Abigail's Party, a role made famous on TV by Alison Steadman.

"I like the freedom of being able to do theatre and television," she says. "One of the reasons I wanted to become an actress was to be able to try out different roles. I hope that will continue. There's still so much that I want to do."